Harstad and Narvik are two towns in the north of Norway, centrally located in the area - Harstad on the west coast and Narvik on the east. You can fly into the Harstad-Narvik airport to reach both towns.Both Harstad and Narvik offer scenic landscapes as well as a number of activities that make them worth a visit. The area around the Harstad-Narvik airport itself is surrounded by a number of white sandy beaches, hiking trails and beautiful fjords. There are direct flights with SAS to Harstad-Narvik from Bodø, Oslo, Tromsø and Trondheim.

Harstad

Harstad sits on Norway’s largest island, Hinnøya, and is an important cultural center in the area. Every June, the city is host to the Festival of Northern Norway, one of the most important arts festivals in the country. The festival aims to showcase the cultural diversity of Norway’s far north. Thousands of people attend the festival each year, which features both professional and amateur artists across a number of disciplines, including music, theater, dance, film, fine arts and more.

While in Harstad, you can explore the Trodenes Peninsula to learn about the history of the area. Visit the Trondenes Historical Center, and you’ll find exhibits on the history of North Norway from the Viking-era through today. Nearby is the Trondenes Church, built in 1150 by King Øystein. Also in the area is the Adolf Gun, one of the largest land-based guns from World War II. Harstad is also a great town from which to view the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and, during the summer, the midnight sun.

Narvik

Narvik is a seaport located on the Ofotfjord north of the Arctic Circle. The city is an important port for the whole northern region—thanks to the Gulf Stream, Narvik’s harbor remains ice-free year-round, despite its northern location. The city is surrounded by panoramic views of beautiful forests, fjords and mountains. Outdoor activities are extremely popular here. In the area, you can ski, snowboard, hike, rock climb, mountain bike, paraglide, go whale watching, play golf and more.

One of the main attractions in Narvik is the Ofoten Railway. This train ride takes you from Narvik to the Swedish border and covers stunning scenery as you climb through the mountains towards Sweden. In town, you can also ride the Narvikfjellet Cable Car up Fagernesfjellet Mountain to get majestic views of the surrounding mountains and fjords.

Crew tip

Passenger tip

This diving tour takes you down in the water of Narvik harbour to explore some of the 30 ships that sank here in two battles during World War Two. The tour operator also has whale safari tours if you'd rather stay above the surface. / Greg

Passenger tip

A bit of a drive from Narvik, but well worth it if you want to see whales and learn more about them. Besides the actual whale safari, there is a whale museum with an educational exhibition and a sperm whale skeleton as its main attractions. / Jennifer